Co-worker's plan for her 18 year old is crazy to me

[Anonymous]

My co-worker's daughter graduated high school recently and my co-worker forced her daughter complete a vocational cosmetology school program which she is still in the process of. I think it wraps up within a couple months. She has told us at work how her daughter did not really want to complete the cosmetology program. On the first day she started, she called her mom crying (my co-worker's desk is next to mine) begging to not have to go back. Apparently the school is really run down and she hated it from day one. The daughter has scoliosis and BDD and has no real interest in doing hair. The daughter really wants to attend college, but they are going to get her an apartment for 7 months and pay the rent for 7 months then she will be responsible for all of her own bills. She will be expected to pay for all of her own groceries, other household bills besides rent etc during that 7 months. She will be work as a hair stylist assistant.

Is it just me or is this plan crazy? It takes a long time to build a clientele as a hair stylist. I don't think she is going to suddenly love doing it either when she has hated it from day 1.

[Anonymous]

Cosmetology is a decent career choice for a teen like the one you describe.

And it’s mostly AI-proof.

You should MYOB, OP.

[Anonymous]

Why do you pretend to know her child better than she does? This is no crazier than thinking that every kid must and should go to college. MYOB.

[Anonymous]

A kid cannot build a clientele in 7 months! Cosmetology is cut throat and pays very little. Being a hair stylist assistant usually lasts for a year and pays beans. It takes a couple years to build a clientele. Kid has scoliosis plus BDD. Horrible combination for working in a salon. The kid wants college, not a cosmetology career.

[Anonymous]

Controlling and borderline behavior. If she wants to go to college, she should be able to. It’s not like she’s choosing not to go to college or do anything, and this cosmetology school is what her parents chose instead. That would be different. She should be able to pick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My co-worker's daughter graduated high school recently and my co-worker forced her daughter complete a vocational cosmetology school program which she is still in the process of. I think it wraps up within a couple months. She has told us at work how her daughter did not really want to complete the cosmetology program. On the first day she started, she called her mom crying (my co-worker's desk is next to mine) begging to not have to go back. Apparently the school is really run down and she hated it from day one. The daughter has scoliosis and BDD and has no real interest in doing hair. The daughter really wants to attend college, but they are going to get her an apartment for 7 months and pay the rent for 7 months then she will be responsible for all of her own bills. She will be expected to pay for all of her own groceries, other household bills besides rent etc during that 7 months. She will be work as a hair stylist assistant.

Is it just me or is this plan crazy? It takes a long time to build a clientele as a hair stylist. I don't think she is going to suddenly love doing it either when she has hated it from day 1.

It doesn't affect you. Why are you so invested in these details? Super weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A kid cannot build a clientele in 7 months! Cosmetology is cut throat and pays very little. Being a hair stylist assistant usually lasts for a year and pays beans. It takes a couple years to build a clientele. Kid has scoliosis plus BDD. Horrible combination for working in a salon. The kid wants college, not a cosmetology career.

So who is stopping her from going to college? She is 18.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Controlling and borderline behavior. If she wants to go to college, she should be able to. It’s not like she’s choosing not to go to college or do anything, and this cosmetology school is what her parents chose instead. That would be different. She should be able to pick.

This. ^^
I have never heard of a parent forcing something like cosmetology school. It's straight up weird. This kid has scoliosis. My hair stylist complains about her back all the time and AFAIK she does not have something like scoliosis. And she had to get rotator cuff surgery. The girls who start at the salon I work at are assistants. They make minimum wage. And it takes those girls a while to build up a clientele. This plan sounds like a disaster waiting to happen because she will be living in a poverty cycle for a while. Hair is one of those careers you have to LOVE to be a success at it. If that girl wants to go to college, it's weird they are barring her from it. It is going to be hard when she sees her peers going to college and she has to go work somewhere she doesn't want to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A kid cannot build a clientele in 7 months! Cosmetology is cut throat and pays very little. Being a hair stylist assistant usually lasts for a year and pays beans. It takes a couple years to build a clientele. Kid has scoliosis plus BDD. Horrible combination for working in a salon. The kid wants college, not a cosmetology career.

So who is stopping her from going to college? She is 18.

You have to be 24 to be independent on the FAFSA. You cannot take out student loans without the FAFSA and until age 24 the government considers your parents' income and they have to sign it. Ask me how I know.

[Anonymous]

This plan isn't going to work. How is she going to pay for an apartment and all household bills in 7 months?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A kid cannot build a clientele in 7 months! Cosmetology is cut throat and pays very little. Being a hair stylist assistant usually lasts for a year and pays beans. It takes a couple years to build a clientele. Kid has scoliosis plus BDD. Horrible combination for working in a salon. The kid wants college, not a cosmetology career.

So who is stopping her from going to college? She is 18.

You have to be 24 to be independent on the FAFSA. You cannot take out student loans without the FAFSA and until age 24 the government considers your parents' income and they have to sign it. Ask me how I know.

I actually didn't know that. It's insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A kid cannot build a clientele in 7 months! Cosmetology is cut throat and pays very little. Being a hair stylist assistant usually lasts for a year and pays beans. It takes a couple years to build a clientele. Kid has scoliosis plus BDD. Horrible combination for working in a salon. The kid wants college, not a cosmetology career.

So who is stopping her from going to college? She is 18.

You have to be 24 to be independent on the FAFSA. You cannot take out student loans without the FAFSA and until age 24 the government considers your parents' income and they have to sign it. Ask me how I know.

She can become independent then proceed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A kid cannot build a clientele in 7 months! Cosmetology is cut throat and pays very little. Being a hair stylist assistant usually lasts for a year and pays beans. It takes a couple years to build a clientele. Kid has scoliosis plus BDD. Horrible combination for working in a salon. The kid wants college, not a cosmetology career.

So who is stopping her from going to college? She is 18.

You have to be 24 to be independent on the FAFSA. You cannot take out student loans without the FAFSA and until age 24 the government considers your parents' income and they have to sign it. Ask me how I know.

She can become independent then proceed.

You have no idea what you're talking about. It is not that simple. Don't speak on things you have no idea about.

To be considered independent for federal student aid, you must meet specific criteria defined by the U.S. Department of Education. Simply living on your own, paying your own bills, or your parents' refusal to contribute does not automatically make you independent

Criteria for Independent StatusTo declare yourself independent on the FAFSA, you must meet at least one of the following criteria:Age: You are at least 24 years old.Education Level: You are pursuing a master's or doctorate degree.Marital Status: You are married (not separated).Military Service: You are currently serving on active duty or are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.Dependents: You have children or other dependents who receive more than half of their financial support from you.Legal/Foster Status: You were in foster care, an orphan, or a ward of the court at any time since turning age 13.Emancipation: You are an emancipated minor or in a legal guardianship.Homelessness: You have been verified as an unaccompanied and homeless youth, or self-supporting and at risk of homelessness, on or after July 1 of the award year.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like the mom is not that smart, but what can you do? I respect the trades for sure, because college is not the right move for everyone, but forcing a kid to do something low paying and that they hate is stupid.

[Anonymous]

College isnt for everyone and making your kid get a job is fine. Forcing them to do something they don’t want to is crazy though.